Small Spaces

Parisian-inspired apartment mixes old and new for a laissez-faire feel

A once-blah apartment gets a beauty-inspired makeover that leaves its resident sitting pretty.

"As foundation is to a face, paint is to a space.” This is the kind of wonderful proclamation Vancouver-based makeup artist India Daykin likes to make, and with good reason. The 22-year-old, who owns beauty specialty store India Rose Cosmeticary in the city’s MacKenzie Heights neighbourhood, expertly applied this analysis to her South Granville area apartment. “This is my first true grown-up space and a big change from the place I lived in before graduating last year,” she says.

While India admits that even her student digs were stylish – thanks to some cool cast-offs from her parents’ basement and help from her mom, interior designer-turned-bakery owner Rosie Daykin – she wanted the look of this apartment to be all hers. Coincidentally, India’s parents had briefly lived in the building when they were first married, so when a unit became available it seemed like fate – yet the family ties that led India here made her even more determined to create her own aesthetic. “I didn’t want to rely on my mom to decorate,” she says. “Of course she helped me, but I wanted to make my own mark.”

To remedy the 1,000-square-foot rental’s colour scheme – bright turquoise in the dining room and dingy yellow everywhere else – paint was the first tool of choice in India’s transformation kit. “I’ve always admired chic Parisian apartments and wanted to capture that vibe, but I had to be realistic,” she says. “Since this is a rental, I couldn’t redo the walls with plaster wainscotting, but I could paint them.” Her beauty aesthetic formed the makeover game plan. “When it comes to makeup, I’m drawn to interesting flourishes like winged eyeliner, but I like to keep the skin fresh and clean. I decided to take the same approach in my apartment,” explains India.

Photo Gallery

A mix of old and new gives this Parisian-inspired apartment its laissez-faire feel

Meet the homeowner

India, pictured here in her living room, is set to open her cosmetics shop, India Rose Cosmet­icary, this spring.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Christy Wright
Source: Janis Nicolay

A mix of old and new gives this Parisian-inspired apartment its laissez-faire feel

Parisian-inspired dining room

“The dining room in particular was inspired by Parisian interiors,” says homeowner India Daykin. “I love combining old pieces like the vintage settee, pendant light and dresser with the modern table and artwork.” The honey hues of the original white oak floors are a warm counterpoint to the pale blue walls.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Christy Wright
Source: Janis Nicolay

A mix of old and new gives this Parisian-inspired apartment its laissez-faire feel

When in doubt, keep it simple

India exercised her design rules in the living room. “I used contrasting styles to make the space lively,” she says. “I also didn’t overdo it with the furnishings – when in doubt, keep it simple.” The apartment building where India lives is named Queen Elizabeth, and the artwork, which once belonged to India’s mom, is a play on that.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Christy Wright
Source: Janis Nicolay

A mix of old and new gives this Parisian-inspired apartment its laissez-faire feel

Creating a focal point

Though the living room’s fireplace isn’t functional, it beckons, thanks to India’s artful styling. “I wanted this to be an interesting focal point,” she says. “I staggered items at different heights and added some pops of gold, which I love.”

Image by: Style at Home
By: Christy Wright
Source: Janis Nicolay

A mix of old and new gives this Parisian-inspired apartment its laissez-faire feel

Mother knows best

“It’s a feminine palette, but I was conscious of not making everything too girly – though I’m grateful my mom reminded me to have fun with it, because it might be the last space I live in that is truly my own,” says India.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Christy Wright
Source: Janis Nicolay

A mix of old and new gives this Parisian-inspired apartment its laissez-faire feel

Glam and gorgeous

Pink accents, from the pouffe and drapes to the toss cushions and throw, create a feminine feel in the bedroom. “My childhood bed was updated with tufted upholstery, and I chose a dresser for my nightstand since it offers more storage,” says India.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Christy Wright
Source: Janis Nicolay

A mix of old and new gives this Parisian-inspired apartment its laissez-faire feel

Pretty dressing room

The dressing room contains transformative elements – faux-silk drapery, a vintage crystal chandelier and framed prints – that India can easily take with her when she moves.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Christy Wright
Source: Janis Nicolay

A mix of old and new gives this Parisian-inspired apartment its laissez-faire feel

An expert set-up

The glamorous mirrored vanity is a favourite. “I love sitting here to do my makeup, while my friends hang out on the pouffe or in the armchair,” she says.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Christy Wright
Source: Janis Nicolay

A mix of old and new gives this Parisian-inspired apartment its laissez-faire feel

Girls night... and day

“My apartment has become a meeting place for all my friends,” says India. “I think my neighbours have met them more than they’ve met me! Plain and simple, this is a place where people want to be.”

Image by: Style at Home
By: Christy Wright
Source: Janis Nicolay

A mix of old and new gives this Parisian-inspired apartment its laissez-faire feel

Darling friend

Winona Cream Puff, a British blue short hair cat enjoys the space just as much as India.

Recipes

Recipe: Thumbprint cookies

Try this decadently delicious spin on the traditional thumbprint cookie.

Offering a twist on a classic is something that comes up a lot in the Style at Home offices, but it’s never been as yummy as this. Our take on these traditional holiday cookies replaces the usual jam with three of our favourite sweet spreads – pure genius, if we do say so ourselves.

2 In a large bowl, beat the butter with the icing sugar until fluffy; beat in the vanilla.

3 In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger and salt; stir into the butter mixture just until the ingredients are combined and come together to form a dough.

4 Shape the dough into thirty-six 1" balls.*

5 Arrange 1" apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Press your thumb into the centre of each ball, leaving an indentation; pinch together any cracks around the edges.

6 Bake until the edges of the cookies are golden, about 12 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the sheets for 3 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.

7 When the cookies are cool, spoon a scant 1 teaspoon of filling into the well of each one.

*To roll the cookies in nuts, whisk 2 egg whites with 1 teaspoon water until frothy; place finely chopped nuts (such as pistachios, walnuts or hazelnuts) in a bowl. Using a fork, dip each dough ball into the egg mixture, then into the nuts to coat. Place on the prepared baking sheets and continue with the recipe as directed. To dust with cocoa or cinnamon, roll the dough balls into either cinnamon or cocoa powder, shaking off any excess. Place on the prepared baking sheets and continue with the recipe as directed.

Interiors

Interior: Minimal modern home

Interiors

Interior: Minimal modern home

Call it serendipity: At a party in Toronto, a guest was lamenting how difficult it was to find
dining room chairs for her new table. As it turned out, that homeowner was talking to interior design consultant and visual artist Penny Dimos. What luck!

After chatting about their shared love of contemporary art, classic modern furniture and non-fussy interiors, Penny – sight unseen – suggested that the Sala chair by Ligne Roset might be the perfect fit for her new friend’s
dining table. And of course it was – the homeowner went out and bought eight.

Having recently moved into a house big enough to fit their young family, the owners subsequently hired Penny to head the design. Located in midtown Toronto, the 2,600-square-foot, four-bedroom brick-and-stone house had an unwieldy scheme: beige walls, moulding ad nauseam, Tuscan-style terracotta floors and an astonishingly badly proportioned fireplace in the centre of the
living room. But the house was structurally sound, so the owners left it to Penny to suffuse it with style, making sure the modern elements worked within the ultra-traditional bones of the home.
Adding artA placid view shows Toronto photographer George Whiteside’s image of birds in flight. “I love the piece and how it plays off the veining in the marble and connects to the outdoors beyond the nearby windows,” says Penny.
Dining roomDesigner Penny Dimos and the homeowner both dislike superfluous decor, and that’s perhaps best exemplified in the sparse, minimally adorned
dining room.
"The comment I hear all the time is that this house looks so traditional from the outside, but open the front door and it’s an unexpected, modern interior."Knockout kitchendesignTraditional features like the crown moulding marry well with the modern elements of this knockout kitchen. Contemporary bling comes from the slick lacquered cabinetry and Caesarstone
kitchen countertops, while the stainless steel gooseneck
faucet and island
pendant light tie in the hardware and appliances.
Kitchen islandThe
kitchen island’s almost-black base is key to giving the space bravado. “The weight of the island pulls the eye away from the traditional crown moulding,” says Penny. Industrial
stools, meanwhile, establish edginess – sleek white ones would’ve looked too delicate, predictable and monochromatic.
Celestial family roomBathed in light, the
celestial-inspired family room is composed of a low-slung sectional that keeps the sightlines open and lends warmth, as does
the rich grey
area rug.
Eating areaWhile the homeowners cook, the children often do
crafts here at the
breakfast table or on the window banquette. “Instead of solid pantry doors, I opted for ones with ribbed glass,” says Penny. “I wanted the effect of an art installation, and it worked – the contents read as murky and interesting.” The orange-backed chairs play to the pop art pantry doors.

Accessories

gallery wall: black and white art

Accessories

gallery wall: black and white art

My
gallery wall has been in the works for a very (very, very) long time now. I’ve spent the past year slowly collecting a variety of
picture frames to use for my gallery – all different shapes and designs, unified by colour (white). To keep the look clean, I’m on the hunt for
black and white prints, photography and art. [caption id="attachment_23363" align="aligncenter" width="460" caption="{ Photo courtesy of IKEA }"]
[/caption]

I’ve become obsessed with a few pieces in particular and like the mix of paintings and typographic art. Throw in some of my own
travel photography and I think I’ll finally be able to complete my gallery wall! Here are five of my favourites so far:
"Luci_four" detail 2009 by Russ Mills, byroglyphics.com.Hold On by Ruben Ireland, society6.com, $18 - $79.Eat Well, Travel Often by chloevaux, etsy.com, $19.05.Hello Heart by Stephanie Sterjovski, ssprintshop.com, $15.Ampersand by Jude Landry, society6.com, $85.Which one do YOU like best?